Paramount Australia, 'Soul Surfer' Team Show 'True Spirit' With Jessica Watson Story

In 2010, 16 year-old Australian Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail solo around the world non-stop and unassisted. Her feat is now being turned into a feature film courtesy of Soul Surfer producer Brookwell McNamara Entertainment and Oz’s Sunstar Entertainment. Based on Watson’s memoir, True Spirit, the film will be directed by Soul Surfer helmer and BME principal Sean McNamara. The story details Watson’s journey and the struggle to achieve her dream of circumnavigating the globe. Shooting is due to start in Sydney and the Gold Coast early next year with Paramount Pictures Australia releasing in Australia and New Zealand at the end of 2013. Cast is still to be set. Producers are BME’s McNamara and David Brookwell and Sunstar’s Andrew Fraser, Daniel Starling and Brian Andrews. The scriptwriters are McNamara, Brookwell and Australian Matt Nable. Sunstar manages Watson.